Transfer equipment for volatile liquids



J. K. MOSHER TRANSFER EQUIPMENT FOR VOLATILE LIQUIDS Filed March 18, 1957 Mafrch 22, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Pg'. Z

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J. K. Mos-HER TRANSFER EQUIPMENT FOR VOLATILE LIQUIDS March 22, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet. 3

Filed March 18, 1957 f IW K/ H 5 A w.

uw /l aired TRANSFER EQWMENT FOR VOLATILE LIQUIDS Jantes K. Mosher, Pasadena, Calif., assigner to Schulz Tool and Manufacturing Co., San Gabriel, Calif., a corporation of California Application March 18, 1957, Serial No. 646,841

11 Claims. (Cl. 141-221) This inventio relates to improvements in equipment for transferring volatile liquids from one enclosure to another. The particular improvements lie in providing for a completely sealed system during transfer with means for normally starting and controlling ow and automatically shutting off the ow of liquid when the vessel being filled is lled to a proper level. In the system of the invention that part of the liquid which may evaporate during transfer does not escape into the atmosphere but is pumped off and reclaimed.

The invention may be adapted for use with a large number of different volatile liquids and in any of various situations where the liquid is transferred from one tank for example to another. The invention herein is exemplified by way of transfer of gasolinefrom bulk storage to tank trucks before delivery to filling stations, by way of transferring gasoline from tank trucks to filling station reservoirs or from filling station reservoirs to vehicle fuel tanks.

In the ordinary free transfer of gasoline, for example, from a tank, that is, from storage to another tank, it is known that there may be a loss of approximately 3 percent of the liquid by evaporation. In the process of several transfers, for example three, there may be a loss of as high as l percent of the liquid before it is nally consumed. In addition to this relatively large economic loss the portion that evaporates escapes into the atmosphere and appears therein as a contaminant. In certain areas, for instance, in Southern California, evaporation of volatile liquids in this manner and their escape may constitute a large percentage of the contaminants in the atmosphere giving rise to conditions familiarly known as smog conditions.

The purpose of the present invention is to alleviate and overcome the economic losses described above and the contribution made thereby to a smog condition, while providing for ellicient and advantageous manual and automatic control of the liquid transfer operations.

In transferring gasoline from bulk storage to a tank truck the equipment heretofore known and used has comprised a delivery tube or hose having an adapter unit or fitting at its end constructed to engage with and form a closure for the filler pipe or opening in the tank truck. In the past it has been known to provide a construction such that there is embodied in the adapter unit or closure a passage or opening providing for the escape of evaporated liquid which passage would be connected to a compressor for recompressing and lquifying and thereby saving that liquid which evaporates during the transfer process.

rl'he herein invention features an adapter unit, tting, or nozzle at the end of the delivery hose which incorporates and has built into it a control valve in the form of a oat actuated valve for automaticallyshutting off. the delivery of liquid when the .tank truck (for exam-v ple) is iilledup. to the desired level. .The control valve is preferably pilot-actuated anda pilot.;control valve is ice provided and so arranged that the main control valve' cannot be opened for delivery until the adapter unit has made sealing engagement with the opening or filler pipe of the tank truck. Thus, there can be no inadvertent escape of evaporated liquid to the atmosphere.A The system is always sealed during delivery of liquid. A control pilot valve is also provided so that the main control valve can only be opened by manual actuation of the operator, the arrangement requiring the constant presence and attention of the operator to keep the main. control valve open, it always being subject to automatic closure upon the level rising to the proper point in the tank truck. In an alternative form of the invention, flow begins automatically when sealing engagement is made with the tank truck and continues without the presence of an operator.

In accordance with the foregoing it is a primary object of the invention to provide improved equipment for transferring volatile liquids, without escape of evaporated liquid.

.Another object is to provide volatile liquid delivery equipment comprising an adapter unit or fitting for use with a liquid delivery conduit having built into it an automatic shutoff valve including a float actuator as a part of the adapter unit, the fitting having means providing for sealing engagement with a filler opening and for delivery of liquid only when the system is sealed.

A further object of the invention is to provide an additional improvement in the structure of the foregoing object wherein manually controlled means are provided in the adapter unit in conjunction with the float actuator whereby delivery of liquid can be initiated by opening of the shut-off valve. The manual means may be of a type requiring constant attention of an operator.

Further objects and numerous advantages of the invention will become apparent from the followng detailed drawings and annexed description wherein:

Fig. 1 is a cross sectional View of the adapter unit of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a detail view of the evacuating side arm of the adapter unit;

Fig. 3 is a detail cross sectional view of the manually operated pilot valve;

Fig. 4 is another view of the manually operated pilot valve;

Fg. 5 is a detail view of the operating lever for sealing the adapter unit to the filler opening; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of another form of my invention.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings in Fig. l, there is shown an adapter unit which maybe coupled to the end of a delivery tube or hose 11 supported from an overhead crane or trolley 13. Gasoline may be delivered through the hose to the filler pipe or opening 14 of the tank truck. The adapter unit or fitting comprises a cylindrical housing or sleeve 21 surrounding a cylindrical member 22. The sleeve 21 has an internal annular rib at the upper part as shown so that throughout most of its length it is spaced from the cylinder 22. Inside of the housing 21 is a sliding cylindrical sleeve 25. Mounted on the inside of the sleeve 25 are rollers as shown at 26 to facilitate up and down sliding movement of the sleeve 25 relative to the cylinder 22. The housing 21 has an annular flange as shown at 27 which engages the filler opening or filler pipe of the tank truck as shown. At the lower part ofthe sleeve 25 it has an annular rib or flange as shown at 3i) and in the upper part of this rib there is a circular or annular groove as shown'at 31. At the inside of the flange 27 there isv an annular groove as shown at 32 and engaged between this groove and the groove 31 are t hc. 'edgesA1 of a circular 4flexible sealing ring 34. Just below the sleeve is a ring member 35 attached by suitable means such as screws to the cylinder 22. This ring has an annular groove 36 having in it a sealing ring 37 and' the lower edge of the sleeve V25 normally engages `this sealing ring 37 in sealing engagement.

At an intermediate point of the sleeve 25 on Iopposite sides it has inwardly extending bosses as shown at 40. Each of these bosses is screw threaded and in each of them is engaged a member 41, these members forming axles or trunnions for a U-shaped manual operating lever as designated at 42 which is pivoted on these trunnions. The lever 42 is shown in detail in Fig. 5. The legs of the lever ft2 each have an extending bell crank arm 43, the end of which is bifurcated to form a clevis arid pivoted on a pin 44 extending between the arms of a clevis is a roller 45. The rollers 45 are adapted kto engage the upper surface oi the ilange 27. The trunnion members 41 extend through openings shown at 47 in the side walls of the housing 21. When the handle 42. is rotated as may be seen the rollers 45 engage the flange Z7 tending to bodily lift the operating handle and the trunnions, thus lifting or sliding the sleeve 25 upwardly within the housing 21. The eicct of this is to compress the sealing ring 34 causing it to bow outwardly to produce sealing engagement between itself and the interior of the iiller pipe or opening 14 in the tank truck. At the same time the seal is broken between the lower edge of the .sleeve 25 and the sealing ring 37 permitting ingress of the evaporated liquid to the space on the inside oi the sleeve 25 and housing 21. The housing 21 has van integral side connection or elbow as shown in Fig.

2 through which the evaporated liquid may escape and be pumped oil. The connection 51B is connected to a compressor not shown whereby the evaporated liquid may be recompressed and liquited.

Mounted on the upper end of the housing 21 is a section 53 having a ilange shown at 54 which is attached by screws as shown at 55 there lbeing a gasket 56 between the flange 54 and the upper end of the cylinder 21 as shown. Attached vto the upper side of section 53 is a mating section 57 having a flange as shown at 58 attached to the section 53 by screws as shown at 59 there being a similar sealing gasket as shown at 60 between these parts. Section 57 is screw threaded as shown adapting it for coupling or connection to the liquid delivery hose. Y

Disposed within the sections 53 and 57 is the main control valve 64 which is a piston type valve. This valve has a piston type valve member 65 adapted to seat on a seat 66 formed within the section 53 controlling ow of liquid to the interior of cylinder 22. The section 53 includes an .integral downwardly extending spider formed by legs 67 which connect to a cylindrical fitting 68 having a cylindrical bore as shown. The iitting 68 will be described more in detail presently.

The valve member 65 is equipped with an appropriate sealing ring as shown. The control valve'64 includes a body 70 which is attached to a cylindrical portion 71 by screws as shown at 72, the portion '71 having a cylindrical bore adapted to have the valve member 65 operate therein. The valve member 65 hasta ring 73 attached to its upper end by screws as shown which clamps a sealing ring providing a seal with the bore of member 7l. Within the valve body is a divider member 74 having the cross sectional shape shown which has a circular ange disposed Vbetween the section 7l) and the cylindrical member 71 of the valve, the sections being attached by screws as shown. vThe divider member or portion 7a has a central cylindrical Vstern 75 extending upwardly through the section 70. l-The stem 75 is Aenlarged at .the lower portionforming .a cylindrical bore .withinwhich is a coiled biasing spring 76 which acts agaiiistthe rvvalve member 65"normally biasing it .downwardly .toward its seat. Valve member 65 'has a central integral boss or stem 77 and extending .upwardly therefrom is a cylindrical stem 78 which extends through an opening at the upper end of the cylindrical portion 75 and forms a bleed port relative thereto to permit a relatively slow bleed of liquid under pressure into the interior of cylindrical member 75 and to the space or chamber between the valve member 65 and the dividing member 74.

The opening and closing of the valve 64 is controlled by pressure acting on the piston valve member 65 and this pressure is controlled by pilot valves as will be described.

Automatic control of the main valve 54 is provided by a float actuated pilot valve. However, the pilot valves which are built into the section 53 of the adapter will be described tirst and the iloat actuated pilot valve will then be described.

In one side of the section 53 there is a cylindrical bore within which there is a piston type valve member 86 normally biased downwardly by a biasing spring 87. This valve controls a port or channel communicating with the space above the valve member 65. Valve 86 is operated by a stem 91 connected to plunger 92 operable in a bore as shown in section 53. The plunger 92 extends outwardly beyond the section 53. The plunger 92 is adapted to engage in a bore 94 formed in the housing 21. As can be seen when the sleeve 25 is moved upwardly when the adapter unit is brought into sealing engagement with the tank truck the sleeve 25 engages the lower end of the plunger 94 moving it upwardly causing opening of the pilot valve S5. As long as this pilot valve is not open the main control valve 64 cannot be opened. Thus it can be seen that the main control valve cannot be l opened until the adapter unit is brought into full sealing engagement with the opening or filler pipe of the tank truck.

Numerals 95 and 96 designate ports formed in the section 53 and in the spider leg 67 providing communication with the interior of the fitting 68.

Built into the section A53 is another pilot valve which isshown in more detail in Fig. 3. Formed in the section 53 is a cylindrical bore 10i), the upper end of which communicates with the port or channel 96. Numeral 191 designates a side port communicating with the bore and with port 95 connecting with valve 86. This port 191 has a plug 102 at its end. 'Within the bore 160 is a valve member 104 having a stem 105, the lower end of which is iiat as shown and which is pivoted by way of a pivot pin 106 to an operating handle 107 which has a slot or opening 108 through which the end of the stem extends. The valve member 194 has an annular groove 111 in which is mounted an O-sealing ring 112. Between the valve 16e and the stem 165 there is a shoulder which is engaged by a disc 164 having a downwardly extending sleeve 116 forming a stop as it engages the fitting 117 closing the lower end of the bore 118 which is a counterbore relative to bore 100. The fitting 117 is attached by screws 120 as shown. Numeral 122 designates a coiled biasing spring surrounding the stem 105 which normally urges the valve 114 upwardly to seat against the extremity of the channel 96, the valve 10d having a valve member 123 at its end.

The operating lever 107 is pivoted on a pin 126 extending between lugs 127 carried by the section 53.

The pressure in the chamber above the piston valve member 65 can only be released when the pilot valve 19d is opened. Thuspthe main control valve 64 can only open when this pilot valve is manually opened. Therefore, in order vfor liquid to be delivered from the hose the operator must manipulate the handle 107 to open the pilot valve 1M- and since this vaive is normally biased towards .closedpositiom it must-beheld vopen by the operator in the manner of .a throttle all during the time that liquid is being delivered. This demands the constant attention `and surveillance wot' `'the 4operator and any inadvertent malfunctioning of the system is thereby andere S prevented. Pilot valve 104 could be omitted, however, and other means provided for initiating flow of liquid.

As described, automatic control of valve 64 is provided by a fioat mechanism. The iioat is within a housing 130 having laterally extending slanting legs 131 as shown. These legs communicate with openings 132 in the side walls of the cylinder 22 by way of couplings 133 which are held in place by cotter pins as shown.V The housing 130 has a cap 136 at the top attached by screws 137 as shown. The cap 136 has an inwardly extending boss 139, and connected to and extending upwardly from the boss 139 is a pipe or tube 140 having a titting 141 in the form of a piston at its end fitting within the bore in the tting 68 and in sealing engagement therewith. Communication is provided through the port or channel 96, the tting 63, and the tube 140 to the interior of the float housing 130.

Formed within the housing 150 is a pilot valve housing 164, the interior of which communicates with the boss 139 by a port or channel 145. The lower end of the pilot valve housing 144 is closed by a disc member 146 sealed by Way of a sealing ring in an annular groove to the bore of the housing 144. The disc 146 has a central port 147 controlled by a valve member 14S carried by a pivoted lever 151. The lever 151 is pivoted to the upper end of a oat actuated stem 153. Mounted on the stem 153 is a float 154 made of cork or some similar material. cylindrical sleeve 155 which engages the stem 153 there being washers at the end of this sleeve as shown whereby the sleeve may be adjustably positioned on the stem by way of cotter pins extending through holes in the stem 153 as shown. The lower end of the stem 153 lits in guiding arrangement in a bore 159 in a boss 160 formed in the lower end of the housing 130.

When liquid is admitted by the control valve 64 to the interior of cylinder 22, it passes down around the outside of the float housing 130. When the liquid level rises in the tank or other vessel being filled, it rises up to the level of the openings 132 and is admitted through these openings to the interior of the float housing 130. It causes the oat to rise to then operate the pilot valve 143 to control the main Valve 64.

Before describing the overall operation of the equipment, the mechanical device for mechanically actuating the control valve 64 will be described.

When the adapter unit is not in engagement with the tank truck, it may be desired to mechanically open the valve 64 it not being possible to open it then by means of the pilot Valve. For example, after a filling operation when the adapter unit is desengaged from the tank truck, there may be a few gallons of liquid left in the end of the delivery hose which it is desired to discharge. Or, there may not be enough pressure head in the delivery hose to open the main valve 64 since a certain head of pressure is required to open this Valve against the force of this biasing spring. ln either of these circumstances it may be desired to mechanically open the main valve. This can be done by way of the operating handle as shown at 165 in Fig. l. This handle is connected to a stem 166 journaled in the section 53. At the end of this stem it carries a cam member 167 directly below the lower part of the valve member 65. The inner end of the stem 166 is supported in U-shaped grooves in the ends of the legs of the U-shaped member 169 which is attached to the spider 67 by a bolt as shown at 170. The stem 166 is normally biased in one direction by a coiled torsion spring 171. When the stem 166 is rotated by the handle 165 the cam 169 mechanically engages the valve member 65 to mechanically lift it off its seat. Thus. the valve 64 can be opened in this manner. When the handle 165 is released, the valve 64 automatically recloses.

To summarize the overall operation, to conduct a` filling operation of a tank truck, the adapter unit is engaged The oat 154 is mounted on a central with the iiller opening of the tank truck as described inl the foregoing and the handle 42 is operated to complete the seal with the tank truck. Upon the sleeve 25 being lifted as described, the plunger 94 is lifted so as to open the pilot valve S6. As long as pilot valve 86 was closed it was impossible to release pressure from above the piston valve member so that the valve 64 could not be opened. With the pilot valve 86 now open, the equipment is adapted for a filling operation.

The operator now pulls on the handle 107 to open the pilot valve 104 which permits bleed of pressure from above the valve member 65 through the channelsl, pilot valve 86, port 96 and tube 140 and pilot valve 148 which at this time is open to the interior ofthe housing 130. In other words, the chamber above the valve member 65 is vented to atmospheric pressure allowing the pressure to bleed out of it. When this chamber is not so vented, the pressure in it builds up due to the bleed into it around the bleed opening at the upper end of stem 78. i

The main valve 64 will now open admitting fuel through the cylinder 22 to the interior of the tank truck. When the level in the tank truck rises sulciently to lift the float 154 it will close the valve 14S, that is, to cut off bleed through the port 147. Pressure will now build up in the chamber about the piston valve 65 causing this valve to move downwardly and seat. That is, the main control valve 64 now automatically closes.l This shuts off the delivery of fuel to the tank truck at the appropriate level in the tank truck as determined by Athe position of the oat which is a part of the adapter unit fitted into the filler opening in the A tank truck. As can be seen, the filling operation is at all times under the control of the operator and it is automatically cut olf when the proper level is reached. During the filling operation the evaporated liquid is pumped ofi through the side connection 50 as described in the foregoing. v

As can be seen, therefore, with the herein invention, there is no loss by evaporation since the evaporated portion is recovered. The supply is shut offfautomatically at the proper level leaving appropriate space above the liquid in the tank truck. There is thus no danger of overflowing the ltank truck or causing it to blow up by reason of overfilling it or building up an excessive pressure. The invention provides for transfer or delivery of fuel in a system which is always completely sealed and there is assurance that the system is sealed before flow is started. There is no escape of contaminants to the atmosphere and this is achieved with adequate protection against unsafe operation.

Referring now to Fig. 6 of the drawing, there is shown another-form of my invention wherein the in# vention is embodied in an adapter unit or dispensing nozzle of the type used for delivering gasoline to the fuel tank of an automobile for example. The invention, as embodied in Fig. 6 as in the previous embodiment, involves a system which is completely sealed during the delivery of liquid. There is no opportunity for escape of evaporated liquid to the atmosphere as a contaminant. The invention in Fig. 6 is shown in the form of a dispensing nozzle indicated generally at 200. The dispensing nozzle is connected to a fuel supply conduit 201 through which gasoline is supplied to the nozzle. The nozzle comprises a body portion 202v and a spout 203 adapted to extend into the filler opening or spout 204 of the gasoline tank of an automobile. The body portion 202 receives a fitting 206 which engagesl the supply coliduit 201 and it receives this fitting inr sealing engage?v ment, the fitting having a liange 207 attached to tliefbod,i portion 202 by screws as shown. Theiitting 206A is. also sealedto the bodyy portion '202 by`way of asealifng ring 208 in an annular groove as shown.' A -Formed within the body portion 202 is acentral sternl 211whicl1 has an enlarged cylindrical portion 212 having' i shown.

a cylindrical .bore 213 adapted'to have disposed therein sliding valve member 214 l,which is arranged to'seat against'a seat formed by the bore'of the iitting 206.` The valve' member 214 is normally'biasedin closing direction by a coil spring 215 disposed between it and the interior of Amember 212. Numeral 22) designates a central stem lcarried by a screw threaded fitting 221, this stem extending to an orice in the valve member 214. The stem 220 has an indentation'pon one side" providing for bleed of pressure between it and the opening inthe end of the valve member 214.v The stem 22d also has a central bore 223 which communicates by way of side openings 224 with the space behind 'the valve member 21'4 for bleeding l'pressure out of this space. The bore 223 communicates with a central bore 226 in the stern The body portion 2&2 also has a b ore `230 disposed at an angle as shown and disposed in this bore is a manually actuated pilot valveV having a Stem 231 with a valve member 232 at its end communicating with and controlling flow through a bore or port 233 which` communicates with another bore 234 disposed substantiallyv at a right angle as shown in Fig. 6. The .outer end ot' the bore 234.

is closed by a sealing plug 23S as shown. rl`he `bore 226 communicates with the lbore 230.' The outer end oi the bore 230 is closed by a piug vmember 237`which is sealed to the bore by way of a'se'aling ring in an annular grooveas shown. The valve stern 23t extends through the end member 237 and this stemis attached to a portion of a manual bell crank Vlever 23S pivoted on a pin 239 asshown.` When the lever 238 is pushed inwardly, the stem231 is drawn outwardly 'sd that the valve'member 232 disengages from its seat permitting bleed of pressure from behind the valve member 214 to the interior of bore 234; The stern 231' is biased'in closing direction of the valve 232 by a coil spring 24() bearing against a ange 241 near the end of ,they stem 23l. The end member 237 is flanged as shown at 244' and it is attached to the body 202 by a screw as shown.

The end of the'lever 23S is bifurcated to engage the end of stern 231 and it has an opening in it as designated at 246 andlextending through this opening is a latch or trigger member 247 yso that the handle 238 can be latched in open position of the valve 231. The latch 7 is pivoted on a pivot 249 and it is normally biased in latching direction by a Ycoli spring 250, the ends of which are engaged in respective openings or .depressions in the latch member and in the body 202. The latch has a square shoulder at 251Y and the latch can move in counterclockwise direction s o thatthis shoulderl engages the lever or handle 238 to hold `the lever inlopen position of the valve 232.

vForming a part oi the dispensing spout 263 is a closure member 2,55 which is a circularV membcr'which, as shown, surrounds the spout 203 and is sealedv to it by way vof a sealing ring'256 in an annular vgroove as The stem or filler spout of the 'tank 264 has an inwardly extending rib or tlan'ge 25S as conventional and this flange or rimpha's openings in it as conventional so that a bayonet joint or loclecan be' formed between it and the closure member 255. 'The lattermember has inwardly extending hanged projections `259"`which can tit between the openingsin the rirn'or'ilange l253 then when the spout or nozzle Y'2.@3 and the closure member 255 are'rotated, a' bayonet lock is formed' 'between' the vparts 25S and 259. Adjacent the A,end or the iiller opening or spout 264, .the closure member 2.55 has acircularl groove with a' 'sealing ring 261 init adapted to sealingly engage theinturned:angedfprtion `at vthe end 4of the'iiller openiiig'spout Ztl/if "As shovnftflere is .ahaoular ,Space .bew .the noizleor spout anlpart'othe Airrt' 'orborc'of A'the clflitle .member "Z55- U"fninuc ofn .with this i' Neill .fclraniielld ',theclosure'nilemblegr 'Spare .1:1 15... .r l u f.. it. 2'55'aud connecting with it 'is a` tube 264 which is attached to and communicates with a vapor line or conduit 26S through which vapor'can be withdrawn or pumped out ofthe spout 294 and from the interior 'of the vehicle fuel tank above the level of liquid gas. From the foregoing it can be seen that the system is entirely sealed when liquid is being dispensed through the nozzle and any evaporated portion is withdrawn or pumped out through the conduit 265.

Within the nozzle 203 is a housing 270 which houses a rectangular shaped oat member 271 which tits fairly closely within the housing. The iioat 271 is attached by a stem 272 to a pivoted lever 273, the other end of which is attached by stern 274 to another pilot valve member 275. The stem 274 extends through an opening leading into the bore 234 and the valve 275 is adapted to seat on a valve seat formed by the inner end of this opening.

With reference to the operation of the dispensing nozzle, the valves 232 and 275 act as pilot valves controlling the main valve 214. The main valve may be closed as the result of closure of either of the pilot valves. When the pilot valves are opened, pressure from behind the Ivalve-214 can bleed out through the orifices 224, the bores 223 and 226L through the valves 232 and 275 into the spout 203. With the pilot valves open, the pressure against the valve member 214 is suiiicient to openit against the force of spring 215. Normally, the valve 214 will be closed when the fuel tank is filled up to a level suicient to actuate the iioat 271. When the float moves upwardly, it will withdraw the stem 274 to close the' pilot valve 275. This cuts oit bleed from behind' the valve member 214 and this pressure builds up causing the valve to be closed. When the level is low in the fuel tank, the valve 275 will be opened and the valve 214 can now be opened by opening the pilot valve 232 by the handle or lever 23S. When valve 232 is thus opened, pressure is released from behind the valve 214 and it opens. The lever' 238 may be latched in opened position of valve 232 by the latch or trigger 247.

In operations, the operator will effect sealing engagement between the closure member 255 and the filler spout 204 by way of the bayonet joint as described.

kHaving done this and the operator being assured of this seal having been completed, he will then manipulate the handle or lever 238 for opening the valve. This having been done, the tank will till up and the valve will automatically close in response to action of the float. During this operation any vaporized liquid is withdrawn through the conduit 265 so that during the entire operation there is assurance that there will be no escape of vapor or other contaminants to the atmosphere.

The foregoing disclosure is representative or" preferred forms of my invention. It is intended thatrit be interpreted in an illustrative rather than a limiting sense, the scope of the invention to be limited only in accor ance with the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

l. Apparatus of the character described adapted to dispense liquid into a receptacle having a filler opening, comprising an adapter unit adapted to extend downwardly into and to make sealing engagement with said filler opening, said unit having means for withdrawing vapor from vsaid filler opening; a control' valve forming apart lof said adapter unit; a float control lor said valve embodied in said adapter unit whereby, when the adapter unit is brought into lengagement with the filler opening, the tloatis in position to' shut oilc the iiow of liquid when the liquid reaches a predetermined level in the re- Cptacie; and means actuatable upon the adapter unit being brought into sealing engagement with the said filler opening for controlling said control valve to initiate flow of liquid.

I .T he structureof claim l wherein said adapter unit V ies ,alclosurje 4member adapted to form a `sealing citi ie for the said iiiler opening in the receptacle.

assent? 3. The structure of claim 2 wherein said closure member embodies a passageway for withdrawing vapor pressure from the interior of the receptacle into which-liquid is being dispensed in such a manner that said vapor can be reclaimed and not dissipated to atmosphere.

4. Apparatus of the character described adapted to dispense liquid into a receptacle to be filled, embodying an adapter unit adapted to be broughtinto engagement with a filler opening in the receptacle, said adapter unit embodying therein a control valve for controlling the flow of liquid therethrough; a iioat embodied within the adapter unit for controlling the said valve; a housing Within the adapter unit for the said iioat, said housing being so arranged that liquid being dispensed from the conduit passes between the side walls of the adapter unit and the said housing; and means comprising lateral conduits providing for communication of liquid from within the receptacle to the interior of said housing to actuate the float.

5. An adapter unit for use at the end of a liquid 'dispensing conduit comprising a iitting adapted to be inserted into the filler opening of a receptacle to be filled, said fitting having embodied therein a control valve responsive to pressure of liquid being dispensed for controlling the iiow of iiuid through the fitting; a iioat embodied in the iitting adapted to be actuated by liquid in the receptacle when the adapter unit is in position, and means whereby said iioat controls the actuation of said valve.

6. An adapter unit adapted for use at the end of a liquid dispensing conduit comprising a fitting adapted to extend into the filler opening of a receptacle to be filled, said fitting embodying a closure member adapted to be brought into seaiing engagement with the filler opening of the receptacle, said closure member embodying a passageway for withdrawing vapor from said receptacle; a control valve responsive to pressure of liquid being dispensed embodied in said titting adapted to control the iiow of liquid therethrough; manual means for opening said control valve; and means comprising a float ernbodied in said iitting'adapted to be actuated by liquid in the receptacle being fiiied, whereby said control valve can be actuated to closed position.

7. A liquid dispensing unit comprising a cylindrical fitting adapted to be inserted into the filler opening ofa receptacle to be filled, said fitting having embodied therein a pressure responsive control valve for controliing the flow of liquid through the tting, said control valve having a position coaxially aligned with the center line of said fitting; a iioat embodied in the fitting in the lower part thereof and adapted to be actuated by liquid in the receptacle when the ritting is in position; and means comprising a pilot valve actuatable by said iioat and positioned adjacent thereto inthe lower part of the fitting for controlling the actuation of said control valve.

8. The structure of claim 7 including an additional manually actuatable pilot valve embodied in said fitting having means for controlling said control valve.

9. In a dispensing unit in combination: means comprising a cylindrical fitting adapted to be inserted into the filler opening or a receptacle to be filled, said ttinghaving `embodied therein a pressure responsive control valve for controlling the iiow of liquid through the fitting; a iioat embodied in the fitting at the lower part thereof and adapted to be actuated by liquid in the receptacle when the fitting is in position; a piiot valve actuatable by the fioat and arranged adjacent thereto in the lower part of the fitting; and means including a conduit arranged coa? y said fitting whereby said pilot vaive controls the actuation of said pressure responsive control valve.

10. Apparatus of the character described adapted to dispense liquid into a receptacle, having a ller opening, Y

comprising an adapter unit adapted to extend downwardly into and to make sealing engagement with said iller open-l ing, said unit having means for withdrawing vapor from said filler opening; a control valve-forming a part 'of said adapter unit; a `tloat control for said valve embodied in said adapter unit whereby, when the adapter unit'is brought intoengagement with the filler opening, the iioat is in position to shut ofi the iiow of liquid when the liquid reaches a predetermined level in the receptacle; means associated with the adapter unit for opening said control valve to initiate liow of liquid, said last means including a pilot valve mechanism having means in control of the main valve, and means whereby said pilot valve is actuated upon the adapter unit being brought into sealing engagement with the said filler opening in a manner to actuate said pilot vaive whereby to permit control of the main valve by the said iioat.

1l. Apparatus of the character described adapted to dispense liquid into a receptacle having a filler opening, comprising an adapter unit adapted to extend downwardly into and to'malte seating engagement with said iiller 'opening said unit having means for withdrawing vaporv from said iller opening; a control valve forming a part of said adapter unit; a iioat control for said valve embodied in said adapter unit whereby, when the'adapter unit is brought into engagement with the filler opening, the oat is in position to shut ofi the flow of liquid when the liquid reaches a'predeterrnined level in the receptacle; and means associated with the adapter unit for opening said control valve to initiate fiow of liquid, said last means comprising a manually actuatable pilot valve having means in control of said main control valve, said manually actuated pilot valve being arranged to require manual actuation of it for opening of the main control valve.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,083,078 Mayo June 8, 1937 lFOREIGNy PATENTS 367,798 Great Britain Feb. 19, 1932 606,494 Great Britain Aug. 16, 1948 248,297 H Italy Mar. 23, 1926 778,442 France Mar. 15, 1935 

